Robotic programs offer students career exposure

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Their faces lit largely by the erie violet colored lights at the competition safety barriers, BUG team drivers Garrett Martindale, left, and Drew Disler work their robot with a pair of joysticks during regional robotics competition at Mason High School. ALAN WARD/LIVINGSTON DAILY

Robot 3707 run by the bug team is completing its required tasks perfectly until a sudden failure causes the unit to drop a large trash can resulting in a penalty for the Brighton United Geeks team. ALAN WARD/DAILY PRESS & ARGUS

BUG team drivers Drew Disler, left, and Garrett Martindale shown during competition at regionals in Mason. Their run started out well but ended with unforseen mechanical difficulty. ALAN WARD/LIVINGSTON DAILY

BUG team members have a moment of concern as they roll their robot through the hallways at Mason High School during regional competition. The tall robot chassis just barely makes it under the door jamb outside of the competition gymnasium. ALAN WARD/LIVINGSTON DAILY

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Charyl Stockwell Academy freshman Karsen Biebel, in back, and junior Brian Ambrose carry the school’s FIRST Robotics entry into a trailer, which will take the robot to a competition. The students have named their robot Ducky the Full Metal Mallard.(Photo11: GILLIS BENEDICT/LIVINGSTON DAILY)Buy Photo

Brian Ambrose has always been interested in engineering, so once he heard about the robotics team at Charyl Stockwell Academy, he knew it was where he belonged.

"I joined as soon as I found out about it freshman year," said Ambrose, who is now a junior.

Freshman Karsen Biebel joined when he found out about it, too, noting that most of his family have are in the engineering field.

"Being on the robotics teams has provided us with real-life scenarios comparable to what we would be doing at an engineer job," Biebel said.

The two high school students are among many who join robotics team in high school — a growing extracurricular activity that has become popular throughout the years.

While neither Ambrose nor Biebel have engineering jobs — the career field they are most interested in — they "without a doubt" feel qualified to work at a firm while still in high school.

The Charyl Stockwell robotics team, The Gems, along with Hartland High School's Electro Eagles ended up being one of the district event winners after participating in the second annual Howell High School FIRST Robotics Competition in March. Both teams went to the state competition in Grand Rapids last week and both will be advancing to the World Championship Competition on Thursday in St. Louis, Missouri.

"I am looking forward to worlds because this year because we are much more prepared," said Joshua Arkin, The Gems team member.

Howell High School and Brighton High School also participated in the FIRST Robotics Competition; however, they didn't end up making it to states.

"We went to the regional competition in Lansing and were a few points shy of qualifying for states, but it's been a great experience for the kids," said Erik Disler, the Brighton robotics team coach. "They've worked so hard and learn so much from these competitions and working as a team to build and market a robot."

High school robotics teams are associated with FIRST — For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology — a national organization that inspires youngsters to be science and technology leaders.

"If you go to the competition, you'll see that these kids get to be around those who have the same interests as them, and they get into it and dress up in costumes, dance around and see others' creations," said Brian Vestergaard, a Hartland High Schools Electro Eagles robotics team dad.

The Gems, along with other high school robotics teams, have mentors in several different career fields, all pertaining to robotics.

Roger Day is one of the mentors, who has an extensive background in engineering.

"My grandson, Trevor, graduated from Charyl last year and had an interest in technology but was unsure of what he wanted to do," Day said. "I think once he was exposed to the robotics team, it showed him what he could with technology, how to make things, how to bring a creation to life and design."

Day believes most people are drawn to robotics because engineering and technology jobs are in high demand.

His grandson now attends Kettering University in Flint and joined the engineering program, where he takes part in a co-op at a firm every other semester to gain more experience.

"I strongly believe joining a robotics team provided him with the skills and knowledge he needed prior to college," Day said about his grandson. "It exposes children to engineer principles and allows them to see the career paths they can follow as well as getting them excited and working."

Some of the mentors have careers in programming, electrical work, engineering and business — all skills the robotics students gain.

"We have to build the whole robot, which helps us understand how to work together as a team," Ambrose said.

"Joining a robotics team also allows the students to see others inventions and helps them learn not to jump at the first idea that comes to mind, but to challenge yourself and think outside the box," said Alan Patterson, one of the mentors for The Gems. "It's a fantastic experience for kids."

As the Hartland Electro Eagles also advanced to worlds, they're asking for any donations to help with the cost of the trip. They've set up a GoFundMe account at http://www.gofundme.com/3536Eagles.

"We appreciate anything give to offset the cost of the trip," Vestergaard said. "It will be a great experience for the kids."